Automatic coupling for air-brakes.



J Patented may I, moo.

- T H PATCHING &. R H EINCH AU TOIIIM'IC COUPLING FOB AIR BRAKES.(Application filed Sept. 25, 1899.) (No Model.) 2 Sheets-She6t I.

wmv5ss5s: 6 i

A770 EYS No. 648,78l.

T. H. PATCHING &, R. H. FINGH. AUTOMATIOBOUPLING FOB AIR BRAKES.

(Application filed Sept. 25, 1899.) (No Model.) I 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

llllllllllflll Patented May I, WM.

UNITE STATES PATENT OFFICE THOMAS nanny PATCHING, OFSTBATHFIELD, ANDROBERT HOSKINS FINCII, on BURWOOD, NEW SOUTH WALES.

AUTOMATIC COUPLING FOR AIR-BRAKES.

sencIFIcATIoN forming part of Letters Patent No. 648,781, dated Ma 1,1906.

' Application filed September 25,1899. Serial ms. 781,698. on model.)

, and exact description ofsaid invention, such as will enable othersskilled in the art to which it most nearly appertains to-make, use, andpractice the same.

Our invention consists of an automatic coupling for air-brakes for useon railway rolling-stock; and its object is to providea means wherebythe air-brakes can be connected and disconnected without thenecessity-of the operator going between the carriages.

Referring to the drawings, in which similar letters of referenceindicate the same sole-plates in section.

parts in all the views, Figure l is' an elevation showing the inventioncomplete. The position of the coupling indicated in this drawing is thefirst point of contact between the two parts (hereinafter called themale and female portions) before pressure has been applied to drive themhome. Fig.2 shows a vertical section through the female connection withthe male connection partly in elevation, the positions being'the same asin Fig. 1. Fig. 3 shows a. partial section of the female connect-ion.Fig. 4 is an elevation of the male connection. Fig. 5 is an end view ofFig. 4. Fig. 6 is an elevation of hollow piston which works inside thecylinder of female connection, as hereinafter described. 111g. 7 is anend view of Fig. 6.

In Fig. 1, a and a are the ends of the two vehicles, the portions shownrepresenting the Z) is a round tube which forms a part of the maleportion of the coupling. Thi's tube passes through the sole-plate a, asshown, being supported by a bracket 0, in which it moves freely. Thebracket 0, a portion of which also passes through a tapered hole in thesole-plate, is attached thereto by means of a knuckle-joint d and isprovided w1th.a heel e for the purpose of maintaining the coupling in ahorizontal position and keepin g it at right angles to the soleplate. Onthe the cylinder, as shown clearly in Fig. 5.

other side of the sole-plate-thzit is, tinder neath the vehicle-the tube11 passes through a collar f, which-is attached to the sole-plate bymeans of the stays h 71 k is a strong spiral spring which surrounds thetube 1), as shown, being confined at the one end by the collar f and atthe other by the loose disk or washerl which is held in position by thepin m. This spring is provided for the purpose of keeping the maleconnection 1* pressed forward into the required position and of allowingfor the backward and forward play of the carriages when connected and inmotion. n is the air-supply pipe. 12 is a square metal bar which formsthe part of the female portion of the coupling corresponding to thetube 1) of the male portion. This bar passes through the sole-plate a.in a manner similar to that in which the round tube b passes through thesole-plate a, excepting that the passage-way through the bracket 0 mustnecessarily correspond to the section of the bar I). The spiral spring kand the attachments f, 71-, 7, and m correspond exactly to the similarparts already described in the male portion. p is the bell-shapedorifice of female connection, as hereinafter described. q is anair-pipe.

In Fig. 2, r is the male connection, attached to tube b, and consists ofa hollow cylinder endnig in a tapered nozzle as hereinafter described.sis one of two tapered grippinglugs, the other being on the oppositeside of t t are two longitudinal guide-pieces lyingalong the cylinder2', as showrz clearly in Figs. 4

and 5. 'u is one or a pair of pins projecting on either side of the maleconnection, both of which arev clearly shown in Fig. 5. 'u is aguide-collar consisting of a disk surrounding the cylinder 0'. (Alsoclearly shown in Figs. & and 5.) The internal area of the femaleconnection consists pf two cylinders of un-. equa'l diameter, the first,'10, being of the same diameter asthe inner end of the bell-shapedorifice p, the other, 11", somewhat smaller, so as to form a shoulder11' for the purpose here inafter described. a. is a hollow piston whichslides in the smaller cylinder to, having a collar :0 fittin g thelarger cylinder ugas shown, m is an air-pipe connection fitted into theor washer z for the purpose of insuring an .7 with the male portion.

air-tight joint between the male and female portions. o is a spiralspring acting on the closed end of piston or: for the purpose ofpressing the latter forward into the position'ne'cessary to establishand maintain a connection I In Fig. 3, which shows female connectionpartially in section, R is one of a pair of righthanded helical slots orchannels into which the projecting pins u a on the male connection fitand by means of which the latter is dotted lines in Fig. 1.

partially rotated for the purpose of locking the connection, ashereinafter described. Q is a left-handed helical opening in the underportion of the cylinderw' of the same pitch as the helical slots. R R.

The method by which our brake operates is as follows: When the carriagesare detached, the male and female portions of the coupling stand out inhorizontal positions, in which it is essential that they should bemaintained by the brackets c and o. It is also essential that in themale connection the projectingpins to u should bein a horizontalposition. It will probably be found impractice that the weight ofthesupply-pipe n will be sufficient to maintain this latter position inthe male connection; but should it be deemed advisable a weighted leverb may be attached to the under portion 'of tube 1), as indicated by Onthe vehicles being run together the male connection enters the orificeof the female connection, the said orifice being made bell-shaped, so asto insureentry should one of the vehicles be more heavily loaded thanthe other or shouldthe coupling take place on a curve, the tapered holesin the sole-plates allowing for the necessary play in all directions.The horizontal cross-pins u u enter the helical slots R R (the points ofentrance to which are also horizontally set) at the same time that theconical nozzle 1" enters the mouth of the hollow piston 00. Theconnection being thus established and the air-channel completed throughtubes 5 and q, the continued pressure of the two vehicles comingtogether causes the crosspins 10 u to travel along the helical channelsR R, thus causing the male connection to revolve in one direction, whilethe forward pressure of the male connection 4 forces the sliding pistonarbackward along the cylinder w, the springo being somewhat weaker thanthe main spiral springs 7c. 'lhisbackward movement of piston :20,carrying the pipe connection m along the left-handed helical opening Q,causes thepiston a; to rotate in the opposite direction. These twoopposite rotary movements of theseparate parts,as described,

forces the tapered lugs s .9 under the grips y ,y, thus securely lockingtheconnection, which cannot become unlocked till the vehicles areseparated, when the mere act of withdrawal reverses the action abovedescribed and releases the connection.

Having now particularly described and ascerta'ined the nature of oursaid invention and in what manner thesamejs to be performed, we declarethat what we claim is- '1. The combination in an automatic air-- brakecoupling of the tube 1); the tube having a nozzle-piece r, taper-lugs ss, horizontal guide-pieces t t, disk o, cross-pins u u, the whole beingsecured to the sole-plate of the vehicle, and controlled by the springis; the bracket 0 fitted with the knuckle-joint d, and heel e, for thepurposes set forth.

2. The combination in an automatic airbrake coupling of the cylinder wprovided with the helical channels R, R, and having a bell-shaped mouth;the cylinger w, having the helical opening Q; the sliding piston :12with the pipe connection as set at right angles thereto, provided with atapered rubber mouthpiece z, the shoulder as grip-pieces y 1 the bar I);and the spring 0 for set forth.

,3. In an automatic air-brake coupling, the combination, with a maleportion secure to one car and provided with cross-pins, of a femaleportion secured to another car and comthe purposes prising a hollowcylinder provided with helical channels adapted to receive saidcrosspins, and connecting devices located on the male portion and thefemale portion respectively and adapted to be brought into engagementwith each other through the cooperation of the pins on the male portionwith the helical channels of the female portion.

4. In an automatic air-brake coupling, the combination, with a maleportion mounted to turn on one car and provided with projections uponits outer surface, of a female portion secured to another carnon-rotatably' and pro-' vided with helical channels adapted to receivesaid projections, and connecting devices 10- cated on the male portionand the female portion respectively and adapted to be brought intoengagement with each other through the cooperation of the pins on themale portion with the helical channels of the female por tion. 5. In anautomatic air-brake coupling, the

combination, with a male portion mounted to turn on one car and providedwith projections upon its outer. surface, of a female portion secured toanother car non-rotatably and provided with helical channels adapted toreceive said projections, and with a helical opening located in the rearof said channels, a hollow piston mounted to slide and turn in saidfemale portion and having an air-pipe connection passing through andengaging said helical opening, and connecting devices located.respectively on said piston and' on the male portion of the coupling andadapted to be brought into engagement with each other the couplingmembers, and springs for throw- :6 through the cooperation of the saidpins and ing said members forward in the brackets.

channels. In witness whereof we have hereunto set 6. A coupling,comprising a tubular male our hands in the presence of two witnesses.

member, a tubular female member having a THOMAS HENRY PATOHING.

flaringmouth, brackets in which said coup- ROBERT IIOSKINS FIN OH.

ling members are adapted to slide and piv- Witnesses:

oted to the respective ears about horizontal NVALTER SIGMONT,

axes, means for eo1meeting the free ends of F. ALLEN.

